The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-01-13

are too many to leavel will not! God car
not mean it!' Then softer mood followed
and she prayed pitifully: 30 God. be
merciful-send some one TO help me. KeeI
this sorrow from those who lore me-" How
could she bear to die now, when her last
words to the man whom she loved had been
bitter and haunting. And for whatl-a
passing, causeless jealousy Of Mazie-but,
Maize! Like a fash came the most de.
spairing thought of all They had been
hand in hand up till the last moment. Was
1t possible that she could have escaped
Were two mothers to be made desolate
The heavens were brass above her, and the
waves beat upon her like blows of hammer.
| She knew, and thought Of it DULY, that
there were sharks in these waters, but it
hardly seemed to add to the horror of the
situation. She was all alone, out Of sight
OF land, and strength and hope were be-
ginning to fail. 1t could not last much
longer now, and she began to wonder
whether it was worth while to prolong the
struggle. Would it not be better to give up
now, and let herself down softly into the
certain death belowl II she held her breath
it would soon be over Why should she add
useless pain to this pitiful remnant of life
that was left her! She was racked with
cramp from head to foot, and her throat
was scalded with the salt sea-water. But
she would lift herself up out of the water
just once more and look about her-then, if
no help were in sight, she would give up
hope and herself and the struggle.
Slowly and with difficulty she raised her
self upon the waves and looked around.
One look-then she threw up her hands with
a sudden, Incredible sense of relief, and
shut her eyes and waited. a moment later
strong hands seized her. and she felt her
self drawn in over the side of the boat
Earls boat, for in that one quick glance she
had recognized the band of scarlet below
the gunwale. She had no strength left to
speak, hardly to look up; it was enough
that she was lying there, safe on the rough
boards in the bottom of the boat.
Earls deep-toned Thank Godr' was all
that was said. 1t aroused in her no wonder
that he should be there; but after while
she heard PARKWAY shouts from the shore,
and dimly comprehended that it was about
herself, as she heard the glad answering
cry:
We've got herr'
''Can you raise your hand and wave it!'
1t was Robert Marshall who asked the
question, and VINO supported the nerveless
arm that she tried in vain to lift.
More inarticulate shouts from the shore,
and then, as the boats keel grated on the
sand. the old judge rushed down waist-deep
into the water and carried her back in his
arms. She saw them all dimly, as if in
dream-the boys, looking white and fright
ened, Florry, clinging to her mother and
crying as if her heart would break, although
the lost was found, after all-and Maize!
BOnnibel Leigh thanked the Lord then, as
she had not yet remembered to thank him
for her own deliverance. One of the gentle
men brought a cup, from which she drank,
bat it was like liquid fire 20 her parched
throat, and the singing, burning pain
seemed intOlerable. Every movement was
torture, she was SO beaten and bruised.
Its over an hour" she heard some one
behind her say, Heaven only knows how
she lived through it ~
Then they gathered round her, with tear
full eyes and eager, tremulous hands Mrs.
Warriner and Maize wrapped her in soft
shawls and cloaks, and the judges great
plaid was spread out on the sand
that she might be laid in it. Then they
lifted her by its four corners into the boat,
and set sail for home-a happier party than
the merry crew who had sailed away in the
Tell me- she whispered painfully-'I
can't talk, but l can listen-how did you
znow?'
''Florry gave the alarm when Maize got
Oack-and how Maize got back. Heaven only
can tell but she had to run all across the
sland in her wet bathing suit, and she fell
n the tall grass, with every third step
When l saw her 1 knew something dread
,ul must have happened, and began to call
and wave frantically at the boats that were
lust coming in" said Mrs. Warriner. ''The
Dig boat was ahead, and Earl was all by
himself in the little one. l don't know what
brought him-there was no time to ask"
But if it hadn't been for Bo5's prompt |
hess you wouldn't be here now said the |
Judge, blowing his nose generously. "Au |
TlOrry could say was She's drowned! Bon |
li6el's drowned" But Bob thought better |
If you than that, and he boarded Earl's |
BOAT before it fairly g0t to shore. l don't !
NOW what he told them, but it's lucky |
hey had the little boat, and still lucllier |
hat Earl Warwick had Bob to help him |
It's a risky place for boats of the point |
here; and it needed the cool head and |
steady hand that Bo5's got"
1OIu Oh, OHCle w dFTllcr.' remarked /
hat young gentleman. ANY boy could /
lave done what l did, but not one girl in a |
million would have had Miss Leighis pluck! |
Cor clear grit, through and through, she
axes the caker'
Miss Leigh smiled family at the hearty, /
,oyish slang, aud held out a weak white /
land to Mr.. Robert Marshall by and
"" she said brokenly, Il shall be able to
hank you better"
81 take7it all back!'' said Earl, emphatic
lily. ''The Lord only knows how grateful
am to Bob MARSHALL couldn't tell him if
tried"
Tell whom!" asked Bonnibel, with a
little gggle. She was up
nd dressed for the first time after the
ays and nights of pain which and racked
Ter body since that hour in the surf.
Marshall, of course" returned Mr.. War
viclz, selling his fdnces in his arms with a
uddcnness that might have had serious
Consequences to one in her weak state of
ealth. ''See here, Bonnyl / don't believe
on could have suffered much more than /
Id, that last half hour, thinking you were
cad, and that it was my fault